The National Scholastic Press Association helps students become better reporters, writers,
editors, photographers, designers, desktop publishers, and advertising and business
staffers.
ABC
OPEN: Living the Lovegoodway
- this website is no longer supported by ABC. The material can be
found on the WebArchive:
https://web.archive.org/web/20190601043343/https://open.abc.net.au/explore/56285
Here is the transcript.
31 August 2013 by Nathan Toll
"Interviewing celebrities is
one thing but getting taught yoga by them is in a whole other world.
I was recently overseas for a tour around Europe and by coincidence was in
London at the time of a large Harry Potter convention called LeakyCon. Being
a third year journalism student, I decided it would be worth my while to try
my hand at freelancing and applied for a media pass to interview the actors
that were attending.
I had registered early for the convention and in the weeks leading up to
LeakyCon received an email asking me to fill out a questionnaire for the
chance to attend a secret workshop run over the course of the weekend.
Without thinking too much, I filled it out and then forgot about it.
Just before the convention I received a reply saying that I was one of a
handful of people that would be attending the secret workshop and to meet in
the penthouse of the conference centre at a certain time during the event.
The time arrived. I went to the elevator, rode to the top floor, met a
handful of other people invited to attend the workshop and entered the
penthouse to be met by Evanna Lynch a.k.a. Luna Lovegood from the Harry
Potter movies.
We made a circle on the carpet in the middle of the wood-panelled room and
were then joined by Robbie Jarvis, who plays James Potter in the films.
After introductions around the intimate circle, Evanna told us that we would
be talking about living the Lovegood way; learning to love ourselves and
live everyday without caring about the criticism of others, as Luna Lovegood
did.
We spoke about our deepest passions and fears, an activity that I thought
would be really confronting. But with Evanna and Robbie starting the
exercise, making us realise that even the most inspiring people have similar
fears to us, everyone in the room was open and honest about everything and
nothing was off limits.
We agreed that details of what we spoke about within that room was to never
leave those thick wooden walls.
After sharing her stories, Evanna talked about how much of a positive
influence Luna Lovegood had been on her and how much her life had changed as
a result. And this is what she encouraged us to do: to stop worrying about
the judgment of others, do what makes us happy and live life like we love
today.
Before we left, Evanna stopped us and asked if we’d like to do yoga with
her. As if the day had not already been surreal enough! It was an amazing
experience and it hardly bothered us when we were still in the downward
facing dog position as the rest of the Harry Potter actors filed in to the
penthouse for dinner.
Interviewing the Harry Potter actors for work is one thing, but getting to
share so much with one of the most inspiring people on Earth and then have
her teach you yoga is indescribable."